Birmingham’s food scene is always evolving, and while that’s a good thing, it means that sometimes great restaurants can get overlooked.
That’s why AL.com recently asked its Facebook followers to share which Magic City eatery they feel is the most underrated, and the responses ranged from classic diners to Italian restaurants to meat-and-threes, barbecue joints and more.
The one thing they have in common? They’re all hidden gems you may not have tried — yet.
You can read about 11 of the restaurants readers suggested below, and you can see all of the responses, and add your own, on the AL.com Facebook page.
A cheeseburger with crinkle-cut fries at Sammy’s Sandwich Shop in Birmingham, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)Sammy’s Sandwich Shop
4921 Messer Airport Highway in Birmingham
Sammy’s Sandwich Shop is a beloved, no-fuss burger spot in the Birmingham area that has been feeding its loyal following for more than 60 years, but has still managed to remain a hidden gem — despite having “best burger in town” declared right there on their sign. Open for breakfast and lunch, there’s plenty more on their menu too (though their hand-patted burgers really are hard to top.)
Giuseppe’s Cafe
925 8th Street S in Birmingham
In the mood for Italian? Giuseppe’s has you covered. For more than 20 years, Giuseppe’s Cafe in Birmingham’s South Side has been serving up an award-winning variety of Italian-American dishes to hungry diners. Its menu offers everything from homemade bread to more than a dozen pastas, including classics like manicotti and lasagna, as well as specialty pizzas with every topping imaginable.
Burning Tree Smokehouse is one of the city’s newest barbecue options.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)Burning Tree Smokehouse
3090 3rd Avenue S. in Birmingham
While Burning Tree Smokehouse has only been open for less than a year, the restaurant — opened by veteran Alabama chef and pitmaster Warren Webster — has already garnered a reputation for being among the most underrated barbecue in Birmingham. With a menu that features brisket, pork, turkey and ribs in addition to sandwiches, tacos and plates, it’s easy to understand why.
Olive Branch
3236 Cahaba Heights Road in Birmingham
The Olive Branch in Vestavia Hills has been open since 2005, and while it may not be as recognized as other restaurants in the area serving Mediterranean cuisine, it’s a favorite among those in the know. The family-owned restaurant’s menu includes everything from homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, kabobs and more, all made using authentic recipes and the freshest ingredients.
A meat-and-three dinner at Bluff Park Diner in Hoover, with baked chicken, green beans, yams and salad. Pecan pie for dessert was a bonus. (Mary Colurso | mcolurso@Al.com)Bluff Park Diner
591 Shades Crest Road in Hoover
Bluff Park Diner in Hoover is hard to miss, especially since it has a large Bigfoot silhouette above its entrance, but our readers agreed it’s often underrated and overlooked. That’s a shame too, because the beloved diner offers a rotating daily menu of Southern classics and comfort foods, like meatloaf, fried pork chops and more. It even garnered it a spot among AL.com’s Mary Colurso’s top 5 meat-and-threes in Birmingham in 2023.
The Filling Station
5524 Crestwood Boulevard in Birmingham
Tucked away in the charming Crestwood neighborhood of Birmingham is The Filling Station, which has a menu that offers Italian favorites as well as burgers, sandwiches and more. While there, you can fill up on specialty pizzas, calzones and strombolis as well as spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and stuffed ravioli. Just be sure to save room for some of their homemade white chocolate bread pudding.
T-Bone’s Authentic Philly Style Cheesesteaks and Hoagies began in the Center Point area of Birmingham in 2002 and moved into the Five Points South neighborhood in 2014. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)T-Bone’s
1017 20th Street South in Birmingham
For authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks and hoagies served on genuine Amoroso rolls, many folks (though clearly not everyone) in the Birmingham area know to head to T-Bone’s. The restaurant got its start in 2002 and since then, the casual spot has developed a a serious following thanks to its variety of cheesesteaks, burgers, wraps, hoagies, salads, loaded fries and much more.
The Paw Paw Patch
410 Green Springs Highway in Homewood
With so many delicious meat-and-threes in the Birmingham area, it can be a tough decision to pick just one, but The Paw Paw Patch should certainly be a contender. With lots of country cooking on the rotating daily menu, including chicken and dumplings, fried pork chops, hamburger steak and more, as well as dozens of Southern sides and homemade desserts too, you won’t regret your choice.
A breakfast spread from the East of the Mississippi Diner, featuring a Mississippi waffle, a biscuit, a pancake, and the diner’s famous salmon patties with hashbrowns (smothered with cheese, onions, and green peppers) and an egg (Shauna Stuart| AL.com)East of the Mississippi Diner
3103 Ensley 5 Points W. Avenue in Birmingham
For a breakfast in Birmingham that’s hard to beat (and budget-friendly), head over to the East of the Mississippi Diner and feast on your pick of Southern-style omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, biscuits, pastries and more. Plus, the rotating weekday lunch menu offers comfort food dishes that are so filling they’ll have you wanting to head home for a mid-day nap.
Mud Town
3144 Green Valley Road in Birmingham
If you’re looking for a restaurant that has just about everything on the menu, look no further than Mud Town. Located in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood for the past 20 years, Mud Town has an array of dishes up for grabs, including crab cakes, Rueben sandwiches, Conecuh dogs, pastas, fish tacos, burgers, steaks and more — see what we mean about the variety?
Lunch sandwich at Le Fresca in Birmingham, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)Lé Fresca
2218 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham
While it hasn’t been open as long as some of the restaurants included on this list, Le Fresca has still made a mark on the minds, and stomachs, of many with its authentic Northern Italian cuisine. Its menu includes classic fare, like a variety of specialty pizzas and pastas, as well as unique takes on other dishes. Plus, if you’ve got a sweet tooth, there’s olive oil cake, tiramisu and gelato up for grabs on the dessert menu.
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Dining and Cooking